Ancient ruins can be found throughout Egypt especially along the Nile. The following are important sites:
Dendera Outside the town of Qena Dendera has the large wonderfully preserved Temple of Het-Heru (Hathor) built on the site of an older temple, and is a replica of the original. The inscription on the present temple states that the original building was erected in the far pre-Dynastic times. This was a major healing center for people from all over.
285 mi/460 km southeast of Cairo.
Edfu (Idfu) Edfu has a long narrow temple to the god Horus (Heru), which is also in excellent condition. The present temple is a 2000 year-old replica of the original early pharaonic design. Because the temple is covered much of the original color has been retained.
About 12 mi/20 km north are the ruins of El-Kab. - 360 mi/580 km south of Cairo.
Esna Esna features a well-preserved temple to Khnum ("molder" - frequently depicted at a potter's wheel), built during Roman times on the remains of a preceeding 18th Dynasty sanctuary, that was itself built over the ruins of earlier temples.
35 mi/55 km south of Luxor.
Abydos (Abtu) At Abydos you’ll see the ruins of an ancient cemetery. The Temple of Seti I is one of the most ancient and finely preserved in Egypt.
Every inch of the temple walls is covered with perfectly executed scenes.
7 mi/11 km west of the Nile and 85 mi/140 km north of Luxor.
Beni Hasan Reached by boat from Minyaplain or Abu Qurqas Beni Hasan is on the eastern bank of the Nile. It has tombs with interesting carvings depicting scenes of Egyptian domestic life in 1900 BC. Many visitors stay in Minya.
15 mi/25 km south of Minya.
Tell el-Amarna Tell el-Amarna has rock tombs from the 14th century BC. You can get there from Deir Mawas by local bus or taxi. You can also rent a donkey for transport.
7 mi/11 km south of Mallawi.
Tuna el-Gebal The ancient catacombs at Tuna el-Gebal once contained thousands of mummified baboons and ibises. Many of the animals have been removed but some can still be seen in the tunnels.
35 mi/60 km southwest of Minya.
Wadi Natrun Wadi Natrun offers a change of pace from ancient Egyptian ruins. It has the ruins of several monasteries and hermitages from the 4th-9th centuries.
100 mi/160 km west of Cairo.
Hermopolis This ancient city has two statues of baboons and a reconstructed granite-columned Greek agora.
30 mi/50 km south of Minya.
Kom Ombo Kom Ombo is a well-preserved symmetrical, double temple to the crocodile-headed god Sobek and the falcon-headed Horus (Heru). Of particular interest is a building filled with crocodile mummies.
25 mi/40 km from Aswan.
Tanis In the delta area Tanis contains the most important ruins of the region but they’re very difficult to get to (ask directions from the tourist board in Cairo or Alexandria). A partially excavated royal cemetery is the main attraction.
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